Double spiral ratchet wrench



memo/m a. nan/n5" Filed 601;. 8, 1946 R B ADAMS DOUBLE SPIRAL RATCHET WRENCH Sept 12, 1950 Patented Sept. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES DGUBLE SPIRAL RATCHET WRENCH Raymond B. Adams, Quinton; .Okla.

Application October 8, 1946, Serial No. 701.943

3 Giaims. 1.

This-invention relates to a new and improved wrench and more particularly and specifically to a socket wrench of the double spiral ratchet type which has as'its primary object the provision of a wrench of this type which is faster-and easier to operate than those wrenches of the same type which are now in use.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a ratchet socket wrench of the character described which is durable and lasting in use and which comprises a minimum of working parts'which are so formed as to be unlikely to get out of working order.

Still further objects and improvements of this invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art whenthe following description is read in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the wrench with a portion of the handle broken away and disclosed in longitudinal section, the parts being shown in a partially actuated position for rotation in one direction;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the wrench taken at right angles to Figure 1, the

parts being partially actuated for rotation in the opposite direction;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section taken substantially on the plane of the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation showing the ratchet arrangement partly disassembled;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing the assembled ratchet arrangement and taken at right angles to Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation partly in longitudinal section of the socket and of the forward end of the wrench.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout, A designates a double spiral grooved shank having a pair of diametrically opposed right hand grooves 30 and a like pair of diametrically opposed left hand grooves 31 as is common in wrenches of this type.

The forward extremity of the shank A terminates in a smooth and substantially cylindricalportion l which is formed with a bifurcated free end providing ears 2 which are adapted to pivotally support therebetween the socket member 3 on asuitable pivot 4-- extending transversely between the ears. The socket member 3 comprises a body 5, the periphery of which is shaped to conform to and is adapted to engage in the usual socket, notshown, of the object to be turned inserted in the opposite end of said bore and countersunk below the surface of the body 5; Such screw allows for the replacement of spring 8. A knurled hand grip it which comprises a hollow cylindrical member is adapted to be fitted over the smooth portion II of the shank A be tween longitudinally spaced stops Hand 33 fixed to such portion of the shank whereby the hand grip provides a relatively rotatable grip at the.

forward end of the wrench.

A directional control member l l is fitted on the shank A and comprises an externally toothed spur gear H2 at the rear end of a hub portion 35'. The controlmember H is internally bored to have a smooth fit on the smooth surface portion of the shank A intermediate grooves 30, 3! but is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed internally directed cam teeth 35 each of which is adapted to seat in one of the left hand grooves 3! of the shank. A second directional control member it is likewise fitted over the shank A. Thecontrol member is is substantially identical to control member H and is provided with an externally toothed spur gear 36 at. the forward end of a hub portion Bl. The control members I land i3 arearranged in end to end relation with the spur gears 35 and i2 juxtapositioned. The control member 13 is also provided with a pair of internally directed teeth, not shown, which are the same as the teeth 3 of the member II but which engage in the two right hand grooves of the shank.

The rea end of shank A and the control members l l and it are contained in a housingB which.

is generally cylindrical in form and concentric to the shank A. The forward end of the. housing.

B may be internally threaded, as at M, to receive the externally threaded. hub of a nut iii. The

nut I5 has a smooth internal axial bore for a sliding fit on the shank A and the inner end ofv the huoof the nut provides a seat or stop for the.

forward'end of the hub of the control member- H. A washer 3Sinay be interposed between the squared portion of the nut and the forward end of the housing B. The housing B adjacent the forwardend thereof, formed to provide therethrcugh a longitudinally directed slot C which is located to overlie the juxtaposed spur gear portions of the control members H and I3. The slot is normally covered by a closure plate 39 which is arcuate and which is detachably secured to the housing 13 in any suitable manner as by the fasteners 40. The cover plate 39 is formed to provide a pair of longitudinally directed slots ll and 42 respectively which are laterally spaced and longitudinally staggered whereby the slot M has its rear terminus substantially on the plane separating the two control members H and I3 and extends forwardly beyond the region of the spur gear i2 of the control member H. In like manner the forward end of the slot 42 terminates substantially on the plane separating the control members and its rear end terminates rearwardly of the spur gear 36. Each of the slots 4! and 42 receives the stem 33 of a longitudinally reciprocable clutch member 18. The inner ends of the members It are laterally bifurcated, as at 44, Figure 3, whereby to provide a longitudinally extended slot 35 which is adapted to receive a tooth of one of the spur gears [2 or 35. The bifurcated head 44 of each member [8 merges with the shanks 33 to provide a beveled shoulder 46 which is engageable with a side edge 47 of the slot C to prevent withdrawal of the members I8 in a radial direction yet permitting longitudinal sliding relative to the spur gears. It is understood that the slots 4! and 42 in the cover plate 39 have a substantially close fit with the shanks 43 of the members 18 whereby to prevent lateral play of such shanks in such slots. Each member [8 is provided with a head portion 48 adjacent its outer free end. A spring steel saddle I6 is interposed between the heads 48 and the cover plate 39 whereby to maintain the beveled portions 46 in frictional engagement with the side edges 41 of the slot C.

The rear end 28 of the shank A is provided with a Washer l9 located inwardly of the free end and which is secured in place by a cotter pin 22 extending transversely through the shank A between the washer I9 and the free end. The washer 19 provides a stop which is adapted to abut the rear side edges of an internal flange of housing B and prevent withdrawal of shank A. The forward side edges of flange 5| substantially abut the rear end of the hub 37 of the control member !3 to maintain controls H and I3 properly positioned for a purpose which will be apparent later. The free end 20 of the shank A acts as a seat for the forward end of a plunger 23 which is held under tension concentrically within the housing B by a coil spring 26 which surrounds said plunger concentrically thereof. The rear end of the spring 24 is seated against any suitable nipple or bushing 25 threaded into the rear end of the casing B. A handle 26 is secured to the rear end of the housing B in any suitable manner as by being threaded thereon and such handle is provided with diametrically aligned radially extending openings 21 which are adapted to permit the insertion of a small rod 28 through said handle to facilitate actuation of the wrench.

In operation, one of the control members H or 13 is locked against turning movement by reciprocating one of the clutch members is towards that end of its slot 4! or 42 which overlies one of the control members H or 13. In Figures 2 and S a clutch member 18 has been moved into engagement with the control member H whereby to lock the same against rotation. The other clutch member i8 is moved to the end of its slot 42 whereby it is disengaged from the control member I3. The control member I3 is, therefore, free to be rotated by the shank A. Rotation of the shank A is now accomplished by pressing downwardly on the handle 26 whereby the housing B through the engagement of the inwardly directed flange 51 thereof with the upper end of the hub 31 moves control members H and I3 downwardly along the shank A. As the control member I3 is not engaged by its clutch member l8, such control member rotates freely on the shank A. However, the control member H has its clutch engaged with the teeth of the gear i2 whereby to lock such control member. Thus the internally directed cam teeth 34 which are seated in the left hand grooves 3| cause the shank A to rotate relative to the housing B. In like manner when the other clutch member I8 is engaged with the control member 13 and the control member II is disengaged from its clutch member, pressing downward on the handle 26 will cause a reverse rotation of the shank A by virtue of the engagement of the internally directed teeth 34 of the control member l3 with the right hand grooves 30 of the shank.

The spring 24 comprises the driving spring toreturn the handle 25 and housing B to the Figures 1 and 2 position by projecting the shank A cutwardly of the housing B as soon as pressure upon the handle 26 is released.

While I have shown and described What is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described except as hereinafter claimed.

Having thus described and explained this invention, what I claim is:

1. In a ratchet wrench including a double spiral grooved shank having at least one left hand groove and at least one right hand groove, tool engaging means at one end of said shank, a housing concentrically disposed around the other end of said shank and reciprocably mounted relative thereto; a pair of externally toothed spur gears reciprocable relative tosaid shank with said housing and concentric to said shank, said gears being positioned in abuttin end to end relation on said shank, one of said gears including an internally directed cam tooth slidably seated in said left hand groove, the other gear including an internally directed cam tooth slidably seated in said right hand groove, gear engaging locking means carried by said housing,

said locking means being adapted to selectively engage one of said gears to lock the same against rotation with said shank whereby to cause the cam tooth of said locked gear to rotate said shank upon reciprocation of said housing thereon, saidlocking means comprising separate gear engaging locking members, said housing being formed with a pair of longitudinally staggered-laterally spaced and longitudinally extending slots each in the region of one of said gears, each of said slots extending axially beyond one of said gears, said locking members being each slidable into and out of engagement with its respective gear;

2. In a ratchet wrench including a double spiral grooved shank having at least one left hand groove and at least one right hand groove, tool engaging means at one end of said shank, a housing concentrically disposed around the other end of said shank and reciprocably mounted relative thereto; a pair of externally" toothed spur gears reciprocab-le relative to said shank with said housing and concentric to said shank, said gears being positioned in abutting end to end relation on said shank, one of said gears including an internally directed-cam tooth slidably seated in said left hand groove, the other gear including an internally directed cam tooth sli-dably seated in said right hand groove, gear engaging looking means carried by said housing, said locking means being adapted to selectively engage one of said gears to lock the same against rotation with said shank whereby to cause the cam tooth of said locked gear to rotate said shank upon reciprocation of said housing thereon, said locking means comprising separate gear engaging locking members, said housing being formed with a pair of longitudinally staggered laterally spaced and longitudinally extending slots each in the region of one of said gears, each of said slots extending axially beyond one of said gears, said locking members being each slidable into and out of engagement with its respective gear, and spring means associated with each locking member for holding the same in a selected position.

3. In a ratchet wrench including a double spiral grooved shank having at least one left hand groove and at least one right hand groove, tool engaging means at one end of said shank, a housing concentrically disposed around the other end of said shank and reciprocably mounted relative thereto; a pair of externally toothed spur gears reciprocable relative to said shank with said housing and concentric to said shank, said gears being positioned in abutting end to end relation on said shank, one of said gears including an internally directed cam tooth slidably seated in said left hand groove, the other gear including an internally directed cam tooth slidably seated in said right hand groove, gear engaging locking means carried by said housing, said locking means being adapted to selectively engage one of said gears to look the same against rotation with said shank whereby to cause the cam tooth of said locked gear to rotate said shank upon reciprocation of said housing thereon, said locking means comprising separate gear engaging locking members, said housin being formed with a pair of longitudinally staggered, laterally spaced and, longitudinally extending slots each in the region of one of said gears, each of said slots extending axially beyond one of said gears, said locking members being each slidable into and out of engagement with its respective gear, and spring means associated with each locking member for holding the same in a selected position, said locking members each including a stem extending radially outwardly of said housing, a head on the free end of each stem, and said spring means each comprising a leaf spring interposed between each head and the outer surface of said housing.

RAYMOND B. ADAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweden Jan. 12, 1907 

